Burns’ impact on the Americas highlights Tartan Week
Scottish bard Robbie Burns, marking his 250th anniversary this year, will be feted during Tartan Week (April 6- 10) with a series of events hosted by SFU’s Centre for Scottish Studies, including an international workshop on Burns’ impact on the Americas.
Robert Burns in a Transatlantic Context will be held April 7-9 at SFU’s Harbour Centre campus. During the workshop, Michael Russell, the Scottish Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution, will give a public address, Connecting Scotland and the Scottish Diaspora, on April 8, 3 – 3:30 p.m. at SFU Harbour Cente (rm 1425).
Other public events at Harbour Centre include:
A community research forum on “Burns in B.C.”, April 8, 3:45 – 5 p.m.
A lecture by Robert Crawford on his new biography The Bard: Robert Burns, on April 8 at 7 p.m.
A workshop, Connecting Diasporas: Scotland, Asia and the Caribbean, April 9, 3 – 4:30 p.m.
A ceilidh (traditional dance) in SFU’s Highland pub (Burnaby campus) will kick off the events on Friday, April 3 from 2-4 p.m. There will also be a musical celebration of Burns in North America, complete with a mini-Gung Haggis Fat Choy event at the Scottish Cultural Centre on Tuesday, April 7 at 7 p.m.
Centre director Leith Davis says Burns continues to draw global interest - as well as an estimated 157 million pounds annually to the Scottish economy - but notes that he has also had a huge impact in North America which has never really been closely examined. “We’re hoping the workshop will address that gap,” she says.